Creator David Johnson declined to be interviewed by The Associated Press, but said in an e-mail that he "was making money doing my artwork. I'm sure that seems a very feeble excuse for a victim's family member watching the news."

In 1991, Dahmer admitted killing 17 young men and boys in Milwaukee, mutilating the victims and cannibalizing some of them. Gein, whose story is echoed in the movies "Psycho" and "Silence of the Lambs," committed his crimes in Plainfield.

Families of the victims go through the horror of Dahmer's crimes every time they hear his name, said Tom Jacobson, a Milwaukee lawyer who represented the families of 11 of Dahmer's victims.

"Do you know how awful it is for these families every time something like this happens?" Jacobson said. "Isn't that sick and disgusting -- taking advantage of what this man did? What will people exploit next?"

He conceded there is nothing the families can do to stop sales of the figures. Lawsuits seeking to stop a comic book depicting Dahmer and a book written by Dahmer's father were unsuccessful.

Michael Lisowski, who knew four of Dahmer's victims, said the figures may offend some but are obviously in demand.

"I think it's grotesque, but I mean the guy must be doing it because there's a market for it," he said. "I suppose people jump into that, they see Jeffrey Dahmer and jump on the bandwagon. I think you have to kind of let the thing run its course."

Ouroboros

posted 03-30-2002 08:46 PM PT (US)
It's odd that there are so many things that the world can capitalize on.

Gladrial

posted 04-02-2002 09:06 AM PT (US)
No one will buy the damn things and if someone does,they will be watched by the FBI. hahahahaWhat part of the web are you surfing to find such things, Ouro?Lemme guess he searched Google using "action figures."